Nashville’s country music landscape is shifting in a landmark moment for female artists, as the 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards nominations reveal a historic surge in nominations for women. Megan Moroney, the rising star known for her genre-blending hits and unapologetic storytelling, leads the pack with a record-breaking 12 nominations, including Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year—a first for a female artist in the category’s 52-year history. Her dominance underscores a broader trend: women now hold 68% of all nominations, up from 54% in 2025, according to the ACM’s official nomination breakdown released Thursday.
The nominations mark a turning point for country music, where female artists have long faced systemic barriers in industry recognition. Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson follow closely behind Moroney, each securing 8 nominations apiece, a testament to their sustained influence across vocal performance, songwriting, and live entertainment. Lambert, a 14-time ACM winner, is nominated for a record fifth time in the Entertainer of the Year category, while Wilson’s nominations span her critically acclaimed *Cowboy Like Me* era and her advocacy for women in country music.
Industry observers describe the nominations as a “cultural reset” for the ACM Awards, which have historically been criticized for gender disparity. “This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about visibility,” said a spokesperson for the Country Music Association, which oversees the awards. “For decades, the conversation was about *if* women could compete. Now it’s about *how* they’re redefining the genre.” The shift aligns with broader industry movements, including the rise of female-led labels and the #CountryToo campaign, which has pushed for greater equity in nominations, and awards.
Megan Moroney’s nominations reflect her rapid ascent as a defining voice of modern country. Her album *Outlaw Heart*, released in October 2025, topped the Billboard Country Albums chart for 10 non-consecutive weeks and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album—a rarity for artists not yet in their 30s. The ACM nominations include nods for her hit single *“Red Dirt Revival,”* which became the first country song by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts in 2025.
Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert: Icons Reinventing Their Legacies
While Moroney’s nominations signal the rise of a new generation, Langley and Lambert’s continued dominance highlights the enduring power of veteran artists. Langley, known for her soulful vocals and genre-defying collaborations, earned nominations for Vocal Performance of the Year and Song of the Year for *“Midnight Train to Memphis,”* a track that spent 12 weeks in the Top 5 on Country Airplay. Her nominations also include Top New Female Vocalist, a category she’s poised to win after years of advocacy for emerging artists.
Miranda Lambert, often called the “Queen of Country,” is nominated for a historic fifth time in Entertainer of the Year—a category she has won three times. Her nominations span her Platinum album *Wildcard*, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and her activism, including her role in the #CountryToo movement. Lambert’s nominations are particularly notable given her public criticism of the ACM’s past lack of diversity, which she called “a black eye on the industry” in a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone.
Lainey Wilson, meanwhile, is nominated for Album of the Year for *Cowboy Like Me*, her third studio release, which became the first country album by a female artist to debut in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 since 2018. Her nominations also recognize her work as a producer and songwriter, areas where women remain underrepresented. “This is about more than awards,” Wilson told Billboard in a statement. “It’s about the doors that open when women are finally seen as equals in this business.”
The 2026 ACM nominations are a historic moment for women in country music. @MeganMoroney leads with 12 noms, but Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson are close behind—proving this isn’t just a trend, it’s a movement. #ACMAwards
Awards History: How the ACM’s Gender Gap Is Closing
The 2026 nominations come after years of activism and data-driven pressure. A 2024 study by Variety found that women accounted for just 38% of ACM nominations from 2015 to 2023, despite comprising 45% of the genre’s top-selling artists. The discrepancy led to high-profile boycotts, including those by Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris, who called for structural changes in the awards process.
This year’s nominations reflect those changes, including the ACM’s new Diversity & Inclusion Committee, formed in 2025 to review nomination eligibility and voting procedures. The committee’s first report, released in February 2026, recommended expanding the voting base to include 500 additional industry professionals, up from 300, and requiring at least 40% female representation on all nomination review panels. While the full impact of these reforms won’t be seen until the 2027 awards, early signs suggest progress.
| Year | Total Nominations | Female Nominations | % Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 120 | 45 | 38% |
| 2020 | 132 | 52 | 39% |
| 2023 | 145 | 61 | 42% |
| 2026 | 150 | 102 | 68% |
Data sourced from ACM Awards archives and Variety’s 2024 industry report.
What’s Next: The 2026 ACM Awards Show
The awards ceremony, scheduled for April 5, 2026, at the Brady Entertainment Complex in Nashville, promises to be a milestone event. For the first time, the show will feature a Women in Country Music panel discussion, moderated by journalist NPR’s Steve Inskeep, focusing on the industry’s progress and remaining challenges.
Moroney, Langley, Lambert, and Wilson are all expected to perform, with speculation mounting over a potential all-female supergroup collaboration. The show’s producers have confirmed that sustainability and gender equity will be central themes, including a segment on the Country Women for Change initiative, which aims to fund scholarships for female songwriters.
Beyond the stage, the ACM is under pressure to address other long-standing issues, including the lack of nominations for artists of color. While the 2026 nominations include a record 12 artists of color (up from 7 in 2025), advocates argue that the industry must do more to reflect its diverse fanbase. “This is a step forward, but not a finish line,” said NBC News music critic Jon Pareles in a recent analysis.
The 2026 ACM Awards will air live on CBS, with pre-show coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Fans are already debating the night’s biggest snubs—particularly the omission of Billboard’s Top Country Artist Carly Pearce, who has not received a nomination despite her chart-topping success.
As the industry watches, one question looms: Will this year’s nominations translate into wins? Historically, female artists have faced an 18% lower win rate in major categories, according to a Pew Research Center study. But with Moroney, Langley, Lambert, and Wilson at the forefront, the stakes—and the potential for change—have never been higher.
What will you be watching for on April 5? Share your predictions in the comments—or let us know if you think the ACM still has work to do. Tag #ACMAwards2026 and follow @ArchydeNews for live updates.
